Common Tomato Problems and How to Fix Them

Tomatoes are the most popular crop in American home gardens, and also one of the most troublesome.

Start with a quick diagnosis

Before treating anything, look carefully at three things: which part of the plant is affected, what the symptom looks like, and how it is changing.

Problems with the fruit

A dark, sunken, leathery patch on the bottom of the fruit, the end opposite the stem, is blossom end rot.

Problems with the leaves

A few of the oldest, lowest leaves turning yellow and dropping as a plant matures is normal.

Wilting plants

Tomatoes often droop in hot afternoon sun and recover by evening, which is normal.

Pests

These large green caterpillars, up to several inches long with a horn at the rear, can strip a plant of leaves in days.

Preventing tomato problems

Water deeply and evenly, about an inch a week from rain and irrigation combined, more in hot weather.